(10. 1. 1923 - 15. 8. 1943)
In IKTOR Pavlovich Tikhonov, second lieutenant, deputy commander of Squadron 236 th Fighter Regiment. Born January 10, 1923 in d. Smirnov Penza. Russian. Graduated 9 years of high school, flying club, Chernihiv military aviation school pilots.
From June 1942 until 15 August 1943 fought at Voronezh, Stalingrad, Southern and North-Caucasian Front. Participated in the defense of Voronezh, Stalingrad and Kursk battles, air battle in the Kuban and the liberation of Ukraine. For military distinction was awarded the Order of the Red Banner (1943), World War 2 nd degree (1943), Red Star (1942) and the medal "For Defense of Stalingrad.
. W tion of the Hero of the Soviet Union Viktor Pavlovich Tikhonov was awarded on Aug. 24, 1943 over 140 successful sorties, 48 air battles, during which 11 and knocked himself in the group - 4 enemy planes.
.
In IKTOR Tikhonov belonged to a remarkable constellation of Soviet aces
. It combines excellent quality of a fighter pilot, a brave fighter aircraft, a devoted friend and a fatherly caring commander. What would be the job he may fly out - to support ground-attack or a cover for ground troops, reconnaissance and ground attack on the enemy - the command was fully confident in the precise execution of combat missions. The regiment Tikhonov enjoyed universal respect, high esteem. They respect and authority were captured in fierce battles with the enemy. Here are the most characteristic of them, carefully stored in the history part.
January 21, 1943, consisting of four Yak-1 Tikhonov accompanied a group of the Ilyushin to attack the encircled enemy troops at Stalingrad. Six enemy aircraft Me-109 tried to prevent the storming accomplish the combat mission. Tikhonov comrades swiftly attacked the enemy to divert German pilots from the protected object, and created favorable conditions for our "oozes" to perform the combat mission. In dogfight Viktor shot down one "Messer".
January 30, 1943 Tikhonov first flew as the lead pair of fighter. By covering our ground troops in the area of Malaya Zapadenka, the pilot observed seven enemy "Junkers" flying to the bombing of the Soviet troops. Tikhonov boldly bomber crashed into the system and violated his. Going to one of the "Junkers" at close distance, he fired from machine guns shot down a vulture. When you exit the attack Tikhonov noted below three bombers, who lay on the combat course in order to strike at our artillery battery. Soviet pilot tossed his hawk in a steep dive, caught a "Junkers" and from a distance of 70 - 80 meters firing cannon turn. Enemy bomber erupted and exploded on the ground on their own bombs.
The next day four "Yakovlev", led by Tikhonov, the radio was designed by 12 bombers, S-87. The Nazi pilots, diving one by one, dropped bombs on our troops in the region of Upper Shitovka. Attack the enemy, the Soviet pilots shot down three enemy planes and forced the others to leave the battlefield.
Returning to their base, Tikhonov said two enemy bomber Heinkel-111 "and rapidly attacked them. From the exact line of the Soviet pilot one of the Nazi aircraft abruptly came to earth and a few seconds later exploded in the vicinity of the farm N 15.
Tikhonov also distinguished during the air battles in the Kuban region in spring 1943. Within a short period in the battle over the Taman Peninsula, he shot down five Nazi planes.
P last one combat sorties Tikhonov made at the Voronezh Front, during the Soviet counterattack. August 15, 1943 in a fight with ten enemy fighters, he shot down one "fokkevulfa", but he himself died a heroic death.
. VP Tikhonov buried at the farm name Ulyanov Bogodukhovskaya region Kharkov region of Ukraine
. On the grave a monument.
---
Sources:
1) Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary. V.2. M.: Voeniz.1988.
2) Rumyantsev.N.M. People legendary heroism ". Saratov. 1968
